Electric headlight.



J. M. RICHARDSON, ELECTRIC HEADLIGHT.

APPLIOATION FILED 00T.6,1913.

1,088,094. Patented Feb. 24,- '19m WITNESSES: IN l/E IV TOR UNITED STATES, PATENT OFFICE.

.rmrs m. :ercnannson, or HIGHLAND rAax, moment ELECTRIC HEADLIGHT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed October 6, 1913. Serial No. 793,568.

Patented Feb. 24, 1914.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES M. RICHARD- son, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Highland Park, in the county of \Vayne and State of Michigan, have invented a new and Improved Electric Headlight,

.of which the following is a specification.-

This invention relates to electric headlights articularly adapted for use with motor -ve icles and launches, and its object is to provide a construction whereby light may 'be projected in parallel beams, or may be projected in divergent beams which are, for the most part, concentrated upon the surface of the way over which the vehicle is traveling.

A further object of this invention is to provide a single incandescent electric lamp bulb having a plurality of separate filaments spaced apart therein.

The general operation of this headlight is somewhat similar to that shown in the pending application of Harrie B. Kenyon, Serial N 0, 716,561, filed August 22, 1912, for

. headlights; but the present construction provides for largely concentrating the divergent rays upon the surface of the way in. a manner -not possible in the Kenyon headlight, and also provides-a more simple tlamp construction and system ofwiring than is disclosed in the pending application.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of-the headlight, showing the system of wiring. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of the lamp shown in Fig. 1. 3 is a longitudinal section of' a modified form of lamp. Fig. 4 is a front view of a second modified form of lamp. Fig. 5 is a front view of the lamp of Fig. 1.

Similar reference characters refer to like parts throughout the several views.

The lamp body 1 supports the lens ring 2, lens 3, reflector 4, which is preferably para bolic, and this body may be mounted upon the vehicle or launch at any preferred posi .tion by means of a bracket 5 that is secured ment 13, the body 14 of the heated portion of which is spaced laterally a distance from the heated portion 12. The body 14 of the heated portion preferably extends crosswise of the bulb some distance in a plane at about right angles to the axis of the bulb for a purpose hereinafter set forth. To simplify the construction of the lamp, the filaments 11 and 13 may have a. common wire 15 which connects to the metal sleeve 16, while the opposite sides of filaments 11 and 13 are connected respectively to wires 17 and 18 that extend through the insulating piece 21, of any approved type, and terminate in contacts 19 and 20. The sleeve 16, together with insulation 21, constitute a base for the lamp. The metal sleeve 16 is preferably electrlcally grounded with the frame of the vehicle orlaunch through socket 6, reflector 4, lamp body 1, and bracket 5. The wires 30 and 31 connect to terminals (not shown) in the sockets 6, and when the lamp is in the v 13, in which case it would only be necessary to provide another wire and socket terminal corresponding to the wires 30-and 31.

The wires 30 and 31 are separated from one another in bracket 5 in any desired manner, preferably by the insulation 35, and are connected, respectively, to conventionally shown terminals 40. and 41, with which a switch bar 42, pivoted at 43, is adapted to engage. Anysuitable source of current 44 may be connected to pivot 43 by wire 45, and preferably grounded with the frame of the vehicle or launch at 46 by means of a wire 47. Any type of switch may obviously be substituted for that shown.

The lamp bulb shown in Fig. 3 difiers from that ust described in the filament 50, which corresponds to filament 13. The body ofthe heated portion 51 of a secondary filament 50 consists of a double spiral that concentrates the source of light in a less space than does the single spiral 14. This provides a construction that may be more rigid and less subject to injury due to vibration than that shown in Fig. 2.

The lamp bulb shown in Fig. 4 differs from that shown in Figs. 1 and 2 only in that the heated portion 55 of a secondary filament 56 is curved, preferably substantially concentric with the longitudinal axis of the reflector, the object being to obtaina less concentrated reflection of the divergent rays than is possible with either of the other types of filaments shown.

The laterally extending filaments 13, 50 and 56 will usually be made of less candle power than the central filament 11, if desired.

Operation :The lamp is inserted in the reflector so that the lateral filament 13, 50 or 56, as the case may be, is above the central filament, the incandescent part of the latter being at the focal center of the reflector. When the switch 42 is turned so as to permit the passage of current through the central filament, the light is projected forward in parallel beams, which is particularly desirable when a motor vehicle is traveling on country roads. On the other hand, when the switch is turned so that the current will pass through the secondary filament, the light is projected in divergent rays, and the greater portion of it is directed downwardly so as to strike the surface of the road or way at a comparatively short distance ahead of the vehicle. At the same time it is spread out laterally across the way and illuminates a considerable width thereof, which is especially desirable in cities, as it warns foot passengers without blinding them.

Obviously many changes may be made in the construction of this headlight without departing from the spirit of my invention, or losing any of its advantages.

Having now described my construction what I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In a headlight, the combination of a reflector having a focal center, an incandescent electric lamp bulb in the reflector, means located wholly at the rear of the focal center for supporting the bulb, said bulb being provided with a pair of filaments, one of which is positioned with its heated portion at the focal center of the reflector so that the rays therefrom are projected in substantially parallel beams, and the other filament positioned with its heated portion adjacent to but spaced apart from and substantially wholly at one side of the focal center, so that the rays are projected in diverging beams, but are largely concentrated at one side of the axis of the reflector, and electric circuits whereby either of the filaments may be heated at will.

2. In a headlight, the combination of a reflector having a focal center, an incandescent electric lamp bulb in the reflector, means located wholly at the rear of the focal center for supporting the bulb, said bulb being provided with a pair of filaments, one of which is positioned with the body of its heated portion at the focal center of the rever in beams but are lar el concentrated b D 7 b at one side of the axis of the reflector, and electric circuits whereby either of the filaments may be heated at will.

3. In a headlight, the combination of a reflector having a focal center, an incandescent electric lamp bulb in the reflector, means located wholly at the rear of the focal center for supporting the bulb, said bulb being provided with a pair of filaments, one of which is positioned with the body of its heated portion at the focal center of the reflector so that the rays therefrom are projected in substantially arallel beams, and the other filament positioned with the body of its heated portion adjacent to but spaced apart from and substantially wholly at one side of the focal center, and having its longest dimension in a curved linein a plane which is substantially in a plane at right angles to the axis of the reflector, so that the rays are projected in diverging beams, but are largely concentrated at one side of the axis of the reflector and electric circuits whereby either of the filaments may be heated at will.

4. In a headlight, the combination of a reflector having a focal center, an incandescent electric lamp bulb mounted in the reflector and provided With a pair of filaments, one of which is positioned with its heated portion at the focal center of the reflector so that the rays therefrom are projected in substantially parallel beams, and the other filament positioned with its heated portion adjacent to but spaced apart from and substantially wholly above the focal center of the reflector, so that the rays are projected in diverging beams, but are largely concentrated below the axis of the reflector, and

electric circuits whereby either of the fila filament positioned with its heated portion adjacent to but spaced apart from the focal center so that the rays are projected in diverging beams, and means for supporting the lamp in the reflector, said means being located entirely at therear of the focal center of the reflector, and electric circuits portion of the other filament being located whereby either of the filaments may be heatadjacent to but spaced apart from the focal 15 ed at will. center, so that the rays are projected in di- 6. In a headlight, the combination of a reverging beams, and electric circuits whereby flector having a focal center, means projecteither of the filaments ma be heated at wi ing from the rear wall of the reflector for In testimony whereof have signed this su porting an incandescent electric lamp specification in the presence of two subscrib- 2o bu b, said means being located entirely to ing witnesses;

the rear of the bulb a pair of independent filaments within the bulb the heated ortion JAMES RICHARDSON of one of-which is located at the foca center Witnesses: 1 so that the'rays therefrom are (projected in Hueo W. Knnmnmne, substantially parallel beams, an the heated L. M. SPENCER. 

